Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common, and without testing, it’s possible you could be infected without showing any signs or symptoms. The question that many women have is, when and how often should I be tested for STIs?
Dr. John A. Whitfield and his team recommend testing that is appropriate for your personal situation. Risk factors for these diseases vary from person to person and include both known and unknown conditions.
Today, we’ll look at recommendations and guidelines to help you make the right decision for your lifestyle. To learn more, schedule a visit to our Fort Worth office for a consultation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides both general and disease-specific testing guidelines for STIs.
For women of reproductive age, the CDC provides these guidelines and recommendations for women:
Women who share equipment to inject drugs have an elevated risk of contracting HIV and should arrange testing annually.
We recommend broad STI screening when you encounter symptoms such as:
If you know or suspect that a partner has an active STI, arrange testing as soon as possible.
Using blood, swab, and/or urine testing, we can screen you for these STIs:
If your symptoms warrant it, we can also test for less common STIs, such as chancroid, molluscum contagiosum, and granuloma inguinale.
A positive test generally indicates that you have an active STI that requires treatment. No STI test is completely accurate, so false-positive results are possible.
We’ll discuss your results with you and retest as needed. Sometimes, you can be infected, but it takes time for test results to show positive.
While discussing STIs can be a sensitive subject, Dr. Whitfield and his team are STI testing professionals, ready to treat you with discretion and sensitivity so that together, we can support your overall wellness.
Call Dr. Whitfield’s office at 817-927-2229 to schedule your next STI test today.
